"Crowning" the Year

Today is Christ the King Sunday. It's the final week in the church year. Next week Advent begins - a time to look forward to the coming of Christ as an infant as well as a time to anticipate Christ's second coming (a part of Advent we often overlook).

In the Christian calendar the year is "crowned" (pun definitely intended;)) celebrating Christ as King. In the Lectionary readings for this Sunday a passage from Jeremiah 23 is included where God gives an indictment against the shepherds of His people who scatter the flock, drive them away, and do not tend to them. God promises a different King who will deal wisely and execute justice and righteousness in the land. Under his reign, the people will live in safety.

We're clearly not there yet, but sometimes I get a glimpse of the coming Kingdom and my heart is encouraged. Yesterday God granted me a peek. Our church provides lunch every Saturday as it's the only day that the Salvation Army does not provide a meal. We served a Thanksgiving style meal yesterday. Different folks made hams or turkeys and the rest of the meal (except for desert) was prepared in the church kitchen yesterday morning.

Typically the meal is prepared and handed over a counter on disposable plates and plastic utensils. The tables are bare - except for disposable salt & pepper shakers. The rules are pretty rigid about when desert is served and when seconds are served because without those rules there'd be chaos.

Yesterday the tables had tablecloths and fall centerpieces. The salt and pepper shakers were glass, as were the plates. The tables were set with the flatware we use for our congregational dinners. Rather than line up and receive plates over the serving counter, members of the congregation served as the wait staff.

I'm in charge on the third Saturday of each month, and I must admit that I was nervous. I was afraid the congregation members would not show up. On normal Saturdays we man the kitchen with around five people who cook the meal and clean up. We'd need a few more to serve the tables. Well... there were 25+ people who showed up with their homemade deserts and served those less fortunate than they. The vibe in our fellowship hall was really good. It was a beautiful picture of what it looks like in the Kingdom.

There isn't a single significant person (leader, parent, child, spouse, teacher, etc.) who won't let us down occasionally. Some of those people are like the shepherds indicted by God in Jeremiah - so bad that they scatter the flock. Christ, however, will never let us down. We may not understand everything that happens, but we can take His trustworthiness to the bank. His ways are just and right, merciful and gracious. In fact, Christ's throne is often called a throne of grace.

I think it's important to remember that Christ is indeed King; that He reigns even now; and that at some time in the future everything will be set right.